Used car guide

2019 MG 3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2019 MG 3s, from 3,635 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,635MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%)
5,400typical miles a year
29×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2019 MG 3s than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Sub-frame29× usual
    MG 3
    2.9% All 2019 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Brake lights5.8× usual
    MG 3
    3.5% All 2019 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 0.5% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wipers2× usual
    MG 3
    5.1% All 2019 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1.6% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Headlight aim2.1× usual
    MG 3
    3.4% All 2019 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.6% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    MG 3
    2.3% All 2019 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.9% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

The share of 2019 MG 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    22% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    10% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a MG 3?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,274Tyres 26%
20211,929Tyres 32%
20202,471Tyres 34%
20182,550Tyres 34%
20172,844Tyres 36%
20163,065Suspension 37%
20152,269Suspension 39%
20141,524Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2019 MG 3s registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score